- 1(also fourth) [countable] one of four equal parts of something a quarter of a mile The program lasted an hour and a quarter. Cut the apple into quarters. The theater was about three quarters full. Grammarhalf / whole / quarterQuarter, half, and whole can all be nouns:Cut the apple into quarters. Two halves make a whole.Whole is also an adjective:I’ve been waiting here for a whole hour.Half is also a determiner:Half (of) the work is already finished. They spent half the time looking for a parking space. Her house is half a mile down the road.Note that you do not put a or the in front of half when it is used in this way:I waited for half an hour I waited for a half an hour.Half can also be used as an adverb:This meal is only half cooked. 15 minutes
- 2[countable] a period of 15 minutes either before or after every hour It's quarter of four now—I'll meet you at quarter after.
- 3[countable] a coin of the U.S. and Canada worth 25 cents in sports
- 4[countable] one of the four periods of time into which a game of football is divided 3 months
- 5[countable] a period of three months, used especially as a period for which bills are paid or a company's income is calculated The rent is due at the end of each quarter. Our gas bill for the last quarter was much higher than usual. Sales were down 10% in the first quarter of 2009. part of academic year
- 6[countable] one of four equal divisions within an academic year in some schools, usually about 12 weeks long I’m taking a course in South American literature this quarter. compare semester, trimester part of town
- 7[countable, usually singular] a district or part of a town the Latin quarter the historic quarter of the city
- 8[countable] a person or group of people, especially as a source of help, information, or a reaction Support for the plan came from an unexpected quarter. The news was greeted with dismay in some quarters. rooms to live in
- 9quarters [plural] rooms that are provided for soldiers, servants, etc. to live in We were moved to more comfortable living quarters. married quarters of moon
- 10[countable] the period of time twice a month when we can see a quarter of the moon The moon is in its first quarter. weight
- 11[countable] a unit for measuring weight, 25 pounds; a quarter of a hundredweight pity
- 12[uncountable] (old-fashioned or literary) a kind or forgiving attitude that someone shows toward an enemy or opponent who is in their power synonym mercy His rivals knew that they could expect no quarter from such a ruthless adversary. Idioms
1 of 4 parts
very near fighting at close quarters
Check pronunciation: quarter